Tire-vulcanizing mold.



M. 11.111153 a; N. W. MOLBOD.

TIRE VULGANIZING MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED AP11.5,1912.

` Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

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M. A. DEES & N. W. MGLEOD.`

TIRE VLGANIZING MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5,1912.

Patented vOct. 20, 1914.,

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TIRE VULCANIZING MOLD. `APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1912.

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MARK A. IDEES AND NELSON W. .I McLEuOD, '0F ST.- LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN TIRE COMPAN/Y, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0F MIS-- SOURI.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, MARK A. Dans and NELSON IV. MoLEoD, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Vulcanizing Molds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact 'description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. a

Our invention relates to an apparatus for molding and vulcanizingv hollow tires built up of fabric and rubber and which are structurally formed to include separated edges through the medium of which the tires may be attached to vehicle wheels. Tires of this description are commonly used as pneu-` matic tires, in which use the tire proper is reinforced inservice by an inner inflatable tubethat acts to prevent collapse of the tire.

It is very important in making tiresof the kind ourJ improvement is intended to mold and vulcanize that these tires be yvulcanized under conditions that will provide maximum wearing qualities. Among the necessary requirements for the production of a highly durable tire may be mentioned' the following: The een or uncilred tire structure must be sub3ected to a high degree of pressure for the purpose ofv compacting and densifying the rubber in the tire before it is vulcanized, and for the further purpose of pressing the rubber and fabric into such relation with each other that, when vulcanized, the component parts of the tire structure will be positively and thoroughly cemented throughout lthe structure. Another necessary requirement is the readjustment of the threads ofthe tire fabric from the abnormal positions to which they are moved in building up the uncured tire. In bullding up the uncured tires having separated edges, according to the practice at present in vogue, the fabric, rubberized, and cut dlagonally of its mesh, is stretched circumferentially around a suitable annular mandrel,

vand its side portions are then contracted atA Such contraction,

the' sides of the mandrel. of the fabric is necessary owing to the mandrel being of gradually decreasing diameter toward its inner circumference, and the contraction causes abnormal positioning of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 2o, 1914.

Application led April 5, 1912. Serial N 0. 688,607. p

many of the fabric threads relative to others,

tire cannot be obtained by the molding andvulcanizing apparatuses heretofore in use, involving the use of tire molds of solid or nonyielding tire compressing elements between whlch the tires are confined for the purpose of securing the requisite compression before vulcanization. Among the main reasons why Vthe desired conditions cannot be acqulred lies in the fact that the fabric is laid up of lapped strips, and it is substantially impossible to lay combined rubber and fabric tires with absolute evenness and uniformity. Consequentl when the tire is pressed between two so id or non-yielding elements, the pressure exerted by said elements is exerted in substantially the same degree throughout the tire, and those-portions of the tire which may contain even slightly less material than y other portions are not compressed to the same degree as the portions containing'the tion of pressure to the tire structure in such' manner as to adjust the various individual -fabric threads, some of which require more adjustmentthan others.

Our invention has'chiefly for its object to provide -a tire vulcanizing mold by which tires-of absolutely uniform density and having their components thoroughly and uni?.

formly cemented to each other may be invariably produced, irrespective of variance in uniformity f thickness throughout the walls of 'tires of sizes suitable for treatment in such mold, and also whereby the fabric 'such adjustment and tensioned while vulcan- 'ization is taking place. In order that these objects maybe eectually carried out, our apparatus is in the form of a. self contained vulcanizing mold, to which the necessary vulcanizing heat may be imparted without the necessity of resorting to the usual practice of transferring a mold containing a 'greater amount of material. Furthermore,

Fig. III., Fig. V is an enlarged vertical cross section illustrating more clearly the parts at the right hand side of Fig. II. Fig.

VI is an enlarged perspective view of a fragment of the rim portion of the lower Section of our mold, illustrating one of the vents therein and showing the bridging hoop at the joint between the mold sections.

In the drawings: A designates the lower shell section and B the upper shell section of our vulcanizing mold, these sections being of ring shape and inthe main counterparts 0f each other, and being adapted to be so matched as to render them co erative. The lower shell section is preferably supported by legs a and the upper shell section is preferably supplied with parts b, adapted to receive suitable means for raising and lowering said top section in opening and closing the mold. The lower shell sectionvA comprises an outer Wall 1 and an inner wall 2, between which is a chamber 3, for the reception of a suitable vulcanizing agent, such as steam. The inner wall of said sec- 'tion is of a shape corresponding to a segment of the tire to be vulcanized and serves as a partial linclosure for a mold cavity C, l 40 in which the uncured tire X may be placed therein until it has become molded and vulcanized. The top shell section B comprises an outer wall 4, andan inner wall 5, Awhich are fof substantially the same shape as the outer and inner walls of the lower mold section. The inner wall of the top mold section, like the inner wall of the lower mold section, is of a contour corresponding to a segment of the tire X, and serves as a conl tinuation of the inclosure for the mold cavity C. Between the outer and inner walls of the top shell section is a chamber 6 that,

like the chamber 3, receives the vulcanizing agent. It is well to note at this point that the outer and inner walls of the shell sections' A and B are, in view of the difficulty in coring the chambers 3 and 6 between said walls, made separately, the walls of each section being permanently connected by rivets 7, or other suitable means of fastening. It being important that fluid tight joints be supplied between the margins of the Walls of the sections` we produce joints of this description by furnishing the op osing faces of t-he margins of the section wa ls wlth annular grooves, and lay in these grooves packing rings 8, which may be of copper, lead, or other suitable metal. Between these packing rings 8 and the chambers 3 and 6 are flat packing strips 9, which may be of rubber, or other suitable yielding material, and which, when clamped between the margins of the section walls in conjunction with the packingl rings 8, serve to most effectually prevent leakage fof vuleanizing a nt l through the joints they are intende to guard. v a

vTo provide for the accurate seating of the top shell section B on the lower shell section A to render the sections coperable, We 30 provide vertical dowels 10, (see Figs. I, II and V), extending upwardly from the lower section, and enter ears 11 on the top shellx section. These parts are located at the inner circles ofl the shell sections, and lwhile 35 we have shown' three of each of said parts, it is obvious that any other desired number of them may be utilized. The shell sections are held from separat-ion at the inner circle j of the mold and vulcanizer -by draw bolts12, preferably pivotally arranged in ears carried by the lower shell section, and equipped with nuts 13 adapted to bear on lugs 14 carried by the top shell section and into which the draw bolts may be tted. The shell sections are clamped together at their peripheral marginal edges by any suitable means, the means we have shown for this purpose being hook bolts 15, the hooks of which are adapted to engage the marginal edge of the one shell section, while the edge of the other shell section is engaged by nuts 16 fitted tol said hook bolts. V

17 designates an annular packing abutment interposed between theseparated edges 105, i

of the tire X and, therefore, located within the mold cavity C. This abutment when a made and used with al tire of the type shown, has sloping sides corresponding to the sloping inner faces of the tire. The abutment 17 provides means whereby the separated edges of the tire may be clamped and held between it and elements at the outer sides of the tire to produce a fluid tight joint between the abutment and the tire edges, and also so hold said edges tlDat the'body of the` tire may be expanded within the mold cavity C, to bring it into contact with the mold cavity walls; z'. e., the inner walls" of the 'shell sections A and B, while. the tire edges 1z0 remain stationary. To facilitate the production-of a fluid tight joint between the tire and said abutment, the abutment is preferably provided at its side faces with ribs 18,

which enter slightly into the structure of the l tire when it is subjected to pressure.I The abutment 17 is properly adjusted and main-v tained in its proper position, relative to the elements in thevmold cavity that receive the separated edges of a tire, by alining devices that preferably comprise loops 19 carried lby the abutment and extendingbetween the shell sections A and B atk the inner circleof the vulcanizer, and each of which is of such dimensions as to accurately fit one ofthe dowels 10, `as most clearly seen in Figs. I, II and III. i

The separable edges of a tire'of the kind intended to be molded and vulcanized in our apparatus are highly important features of such a tire for the reason that it is through the medium of these separate edges that the tire is secured to a wheel on which it is of service. The separated edges, whether of the bead form.v shown in our drawings, or of any other desired form, should-far their best utility-be properly shaped and thoroughly compressed. previous `to the vulcanization of the rubber entering into such edgesn It is also important that the means utilized for compression of the edges be such as to avoid deformation of the edges during the application of the devices for forming them previous to vulcanization, during the adjustment of the edge foi-mers and during thel removal of the tire after it has been vulcanized.

Une of the essential features o-f construction., in our present apparatus is means whereby the uncuredtire edges may be lirst properly shaped, formed, compressed, and

` age thereto.

. compressor then held during vulca-nization, and which may be separated from g This means 1s shown in the dra-wings utilized fer producing edge beads such as those commonly present on what are known as clencher tires, and comprises the following elements: 20 designates edge rings which, when used for operation upon clencher tire beads, are made of J-shape in cross section, and are slidably fitted against vertical portions at the inner circle of the inner walls of the shell sections A and B. The hook portions of these rings are designed to engage the `outer faces of the tire edges, and when the rings are adjusted inwardly" toward each other, said hook portions approach each other to com# press the edges'of the tire between them and the annular abutment 17 .r Insuch adjustment of the compressor rings, the inner face of 'the .tire is pressed-tightly against the abutment and, thereforemthehereinbefore mentioned fluid tight joint between the.

abutment and tire is e ected simultaneously with the compression of, the edges of the tire. The bodies of the compressor rings are arranged parallel with the inner flat face 17 1 of the annular abutment 17 when the/uncured 4tirelis originally placed in the vulcanapparatus and, consequently the inner izlng edges of these rings extend beyond the innermost corners of the tire 'edges and maintain such position while the yrings are bemg adj ustedinteriorly of the vulcanizing tire edge compressor the tire without damallude to steam only as 4the the tire edges being expressed past the rings during the adjustment.

The means we provide for adjusting the rings 20 are operable through the shell sections A and B of the vulcanizing apparatus, and preferably comprise adjusting screws 21, which are arranged in sleeves 22 extending through the inner and outerwalls of the shell sections directly yopposite the edge compressing.Vj

rings. The edge compressor rings 20 of our vulcanizing apparatus being independent of the shells A and B may be. readily applied to the green tire that is to receivel them, previous to the placing of the tire in the mold cavity of the apparatus, and it will ,be apparent that when' the vulcanized tire is removed, these rings may be readily stripped from the edges of the tire without the least injury or deformation of such edges.

, To facilitate removal of vulcanized tires from our apparatus, in view of the tendency of the tires to adhere to the walls of the mold cavity, we incorporate in the apparatus means comprising presser pins 23 and 25 extending, respectively, through the lower and top shell sections A and B op` posite the edge compressor rings 20. These presser pins are slidably mounted in sleeves 24 and 26 in the shell walls, and their inner ends are adapted to contact with the compressor rings. In releasing the top shell section, pressure is exerted against the pins 25 by the employment of suitable levers, such l. i

as that indicated at 27.in the drawings, which, by being fulcrumed upon the pins 25, and seated in a notch in the .parts b, will act to elevate the top shell section, and at. the same time detach the tire therefrom. Levers 28 may be fulcrumed in stirr'ups 29 depending from the lower shell section A, and, by eirerting force against the pins 23, cause said pins to force the opposing edge compressor ring 20 upwardly, whereby the tire is released from the mold wall of the lower shell section.

The vulcanizing agent used in our apparatus is preferably steam and, without limiting ourselves to this particular vulcanizing agent, We will, in the succeeding description, agent used. v'The steam is delivered to the lower shellsection through va conducting pipe 30 that communi-` cates with an inlet 31 in the lower shell sec`-'' tion at its outer margin, (see Figs. II andv III). From'V this inlet the steam passesV through a nipple 32 secured to the lower shell section and surrounded by a gasket 33, the steam entering the chamber 6 1n the top shell'section through an opening 34 that receives said nipple. The steam then circulates fully in the chamber in the upper secsection and the lower shell-section, in order,

that the steam may pass from the former to the latter to circulate therein to as-full a.

degree as it is circulated in the top section. Provision is also made for the passage of steam from the top. shell section-to the lower lshell sectionl at the inner margin of the apparatus adjacent to and opposite the abutment 17. This .communication is furnished by a short -pip'e 36.` The pipe 36 has communication with a tube 37 that extends therefrom to and through the annular abutment 17 whereby steam is delivered into the tire to be vulcanized while it is confined in the mold chamber C. This arrangement provides for the fluid utilized for-supplying the vulcanizing heat in the shell chambers 3 and 6 bein -alsoutilized in the mold'cavity to expan and compress the tire, and vulcani'ze the inner` portion of thetire. The pressure thus applied 'to the tire is derivedbefore the rubber in the tire has become cured or set, and is continued until Athe tire is comcross sectional area of the mold cavity C is.

greater than thecross section of a tire to be vulvanized in our mold, and thatthe difference in these cross sections is necessarily' `of such a degree that the uncured tire structure will be expanded and stretched before it contacts with the mold cavity wall to be coinpressed thereagainst. This is'important,in

y order that the` fabric threads in the tire structure will be thoroughly,l adjusted rela-` tive to eachother and tensioned, previous to the vulcanization of the tirefthereby calising each thread to assist the other threads in resisting strains incident to the service of the completed tir'e, without the rubber dcomponent of the tire-being stretched to bel easily punctured, or otherwise injured.

` In order that theremay be no air, orother 'fluid resistance to the expansion and compression ofthe tire structure as -it is being laced in contact withthe mold cavity wall 4'and thereafter, during vulcanization, we furj iiish our vulcanizing apparatus with vents thatlead from the moldcavity to the atmosphere. These vents, indicated at 38, are located in the outer facing marginal portions its inner en of the inner walls of the shell sections A and v B, and are seen most clearly in Figs. I and VI. vWhile the vents just referred to are necessary for the' reason stated, it is importanty that provision be made to prevent expression of the rubber in the tires between the outer marginal ortions of the shell sections, aside from tie vents, and to avoid such expression, we may use a guard strip 39, preferably of hoop form, which occupies a position in the mold atthe cavity at tlie joint between the meeting faces of the outer marginal portions of the shell sections.

.This guard strip is provided with apertures 40.in registration with the vents 38, and the strip is supported by any suitable means, such as pins 40, which rest on the lower shell section, (see Fig. VI).

To gain the mostsatisfactory action f steam used for the expansion and compression of the tires treated in our mold, it is very necessary' that the water of condensation which collects at the interior of the tires be removed as rapidlyas it collects, in order that the entire inner face of the tire may be constantly subjected to the action of live steam, instead of bein partially subjected to the liquid resulting rom condensation of the steam. We, therefore, provide meanswhereby the water of condensation is exhausted from a tire as rapidly as itcollects vtherein, and which includes a drain pipe 42 extending through the annular abutment 17.

This drain ipe has loosely fitted to it at a swivel 43 which fcarries an exhaust pi e 44c"that constantly rests upon the wall of, the tire which is lowerinost in the mold cavity C; The exhaust pipe 44 is preferablyfclosed at its lower end, and contains small perforations 45, through which the water of condensation collecting at the bottom of the space in the tire maybe forced by the pressure of steam against such water.

-The exhaust -pipe being supported by a swivel follows the wall of the tire as it moves toward the wall of the mold cavity, and, consequently, remains in contact with said tire wall toy provide for the expulsion of water through the pipe, and .into the drain pipe 42 to be discharged from the latter, preferably through a nipple 4G into a' conducting pipe 47. The drain pipe 42 may, when desired, be closed, or partially closed, by a valve 48. Water of condensa- -tion is removed from the vulcanizing agent achamber or chambers of our mold and vulcanizer through oneor more cocks 49 that mayA empty the water into a conducting:

.pipe 50.

In conclusion, we `wish to emphasize the particular salient feature in our mold of the mold cavity C being o f greater cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of an uncured tire placed in the cavity, and

to add that the cross sectional area of the/1730 mold sections, and means for adjusting said in which a tire may be confined, compresso-r rings Within the mold cavity, `an abutment- Abetween wh1ch and said compressor rings mold is greater than the cross section of the uncured tire to a degree that will permit of t-he tire being expanded to ,an extent similar to the Aextent it Would be expanded to under air pressure and load when in service. Further, that the degree of expansion permissible by the difference in area of themold cavity and cross section of the tireshould be sutlicient to rovide for a maximum stretching of the fa ric in the tire before vulcanizay tion of the rubbertakes` place, in order that the rubber may beina normal state in the tire and the fabric under the same strain,`

when it is placed in service and'subjedcted to the force of air inflation, as it is before it isI subjected to such force.

l. In a' tire vulcanizing mold, tire incasing mold sections, independently movable rings operable to compress the edges of the tire, said rings being confined Within the rings independently of each other.

.2. Ina tire vulcanizing mold, tire incasing mold sections, independently movable rings confined within said mold sections, said rings having no direct connection with each other, andv means for operating Isaid rings to compress the edges of the tire.

3. A mold for tires having separated edges, comprising mold cavity sections Withthe edges of the tire may be clamped, and means extending through one of said mold sections for adjustment of said compressor ing rings to the exterior rings toward said abutment.

4. In a tire vulcanizer, mold sections adapted to surround and completely indylosev -a tire-having separated edges, a pair of tire edge compressing rings inclosed by said mold sections, and means for adjusting said rings independently of the mold sections.

5. In a tire vulcanizer, mold sections adapted to surroundand completely inclose a tire having separated edges,.a pair' of tire edge compressing rings lnclosed by said mold sections, and means for adjusting said rings independently of. the mold sections;

said ring adjusting means being operable at the exterior of the mold. s

6. In a tire, vulcanizer, mold sections adapted to surround and' incase a t-ire having separated edges, and a pair vof tire edge compressing rings incased by said mold sections, said mold. sectionshaving transverse openings which extend Ifrom said compressof the mold for the purpose' described. l f' 7. In a tire vulcanizer, mold sections adapted to surround and incase a tire, having rsepaiated edges, a pair of tire edge com-` pressing rings incased by vsaid mold sections, said mold sections having openings which extend from sa1d compressing rings to the exterior of the mold, and adjusting devices, passing through said openings, for moving said rings independently of said mold sections. Y

8. In a tire vulcanizer, mold sections adapted to surround and incase a tire having separated edges, a pair of tire edge coinpressing rings arranged between said mold sections, and screws fitted to said mold sections for adjusting said rings independently of said mold sections; said screws being operable from the exterior of said mold sections.

9. In a mold for vulcanizing tires having separated edges, an annular abutment adapted to be 4confined between the edges of the tire, tire incasing sections providing a mold cavity for the tire, compressor rings entact with theinner face of said abutment,

and means operable .through saidv incasing sections for adjustment of said compressor rings independently of each other along the inner face of said abutment.

11. In a tire vulcanizer, a mold adapted to incase a tire having separated edges, said mold havinga tire receiving opening larger than the unvulcanized tire,I means for pro- Aducinga steam tight'joint at the edges of the tire, means for introducing steam into the t1re'to expand it, andan outlet device for allowing steam to escape from the interior of the tire; said outlet device including a loosely swiveled exhaust pipe adapted to lie on the inner face of the tire.

12. Ina mold for vulcanizing tires having separated edges, tire incasing sections providing a tire receiving mold cavity; an v.annular abutment. adaptedto be seated between the edges of the tire, means for introducing fluid directinto said 'tire to expand it, and

a drain device in part loosely arranged in the mold cavity, vadapted to follow the tire during its expansion.

13.A In a mold for vulcanizing tires having separated edges, tire incasing sections providing a tire receivingmold cavity, an annular abutment adapte to be seated between the edges of the tire, means for introducing fluid direct into said tire to expand it, and a drain device in part loosely, arranged in the mold cavity, adapted to follow the tire during its expansion; said drain device com- Aprising a drain pipe extending through sa/id/Mo/ abutment, and an exhaust pipe swive'led to said drain pipe at its inner end.` ff' 1,4. A tire vulcanizin mold com rising mold sections within w ich atire aving separated edges may be confined, an abutment ring, compressor a rings Ywithin the Vmold 'for compressing the edges of the tire against said abutment ring,v and presseijgpins .operable throughfsaid mold against one of said compresor rings to" vvrelease'thje tire after itis vulcanze 15. A tire vulcanizin mold vcomprising Vmoldsections'within w ich 'a tire maybe conined,and a guard bridgingihe edges o said the mold cavity to the exterior o the mold.

16. A tire vulcanizingmold comprising mold sections having marginal edges'grooved to provide a vent land a guard strip bridging the jointNbetween said marginal edges, the said guard strip being provided with an aperture registering with said vent.

MARK vADEIJS. NELSON W. MCLEOD.

In the presence (if-- A. J. MCCAUIEY, E. BFLINN.' 

